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Alyssa’s Law: Texas passes legislation requiring silent alert system in classrooms

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:10:28 GMT

A Broward County School Board member is working to make classrooms safer for students well beyond the Sunshine State.Broward County School Board Chair Lori Alhadeff lost her daughter Alyssa in the Feb. 14, 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.Since the tragedy, Alhadeff started a nationwide campaign to improve security on campuses by getting schools to install alert systems.“I’m very excited that everybody has embraced Alyssa’s Law, come to the table and to say that this is an option to help to create safer schools,” she said.Texas is the latest state to pass legislation that will require all classrooms, including charter schools, to have some type of panic-button silent alert system.These efforts stem from Senate Bill 838 and House Bill 669 — together known as Alyssa’s Law.“I feel that this bill is not a Democrat or Republican issue. This is a lifesaving issue,” said Texas State Rep. Shawn Thierry.In a bipartisan...

7’s Amaka Ubaka serves as Regis College commencement speaker

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:10:28 GMT

7’s own Amaka Ubaka was the 2023 commencement speaker at Regis College in Weston on Saturday.“You represent the very best of the American Dream,” Ubaka said during her speech. “The idea that your future is yours to write.” Ubaka was also awarded an honorary doctorate for her accomplishments in journalism and contributions to the community. She urged the graduates to find ways to put their accomplishments in the classroom into practice.

Texas mall shooting witnesses saw bodies; exact toll unclear

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:10:28 GMT

By JAKE BLEIBERG (Associated Press)ALLEN, Texas (AP) — A gunman stepped out of a silver sedan and began shooting people at an outlet mall in the Dallas suburb of Allen, Texas, on Saturday, killing an unknown number and sending hundreds of shoppers fleeing in panic in the latest gun violence to strike the country.Witnesses who were at the Allen Premium Outlets told The Associated Press they saw multiple victims, including some who appeared to be children, and that they saw a police officer and a mall security guard who appeared to be unconscious on the ground.Allen police said in a Facebook post that nine victims had been taken to hospitals. Medical City Healthcare, a Dallas-area hospital system, said in a written statement it was treating eight between the ages of 5 and 61. Their conditions were unknown.Dashcam video that circulated online showed a gunman step out of a vehicle outside the mall and immediately start shooting at people on the sidewalk. More than three dozen shot...

Pitching carries the day — and so on — as the Chicago Cubs beat the Miami Marlins 4-2 at Wrigley Field

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:10:28 GMT

On a day the Chicago Cubs celebrated some of the legendary pitching of their past, their starting pitcher of the moment got caught up in it just long enough to steal a pregame peek at Kerry Wood on the field and to daydream about Wood’s glory 25 years ago Saturday at Wrigley Field.“When I was warming up, I was like, ‘Hey, maybe I can strike out a bunch of guys today,’ " said Drew Smyly, who didn’t last long enough to get the win, much less strike out 20, by the time the Cubs came back late to beat the Miami Marlins 4-2. “Unfortunately that wasn’t the way it worked out.”He did, however, leave the ballpark with some related swag — his son having nabbed one of the bobbleheads of Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins given to fans before the game.“I saw him after the game with a Fergie bobblehead, so we’ll take that home,” Smyly said.The greatest pitcher in franchise history later was shown on the video board between in...

‘Why?’ Mother and child fatally stabbed outside Edmonton school, police shoot suspect

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:10:28 GMT

EDMONTON — Dozens of people gathered Saturday around a memorial of flowers and stuffed animals in a park as Indigenous drummers sang in honour of a slain mother and her 11-year-old.Family members identified the victims of the Friday afternoon attack outside an elementary school as Carolann Robillard, 35, and Sarah Miller, who had started using the first name Jayden.“I’m really grateful for everyone for being here,” said a sobbing Donna Robillard, as others held hands and said prayers.“Carolann, my daughter, she was a beautiful girl … and Sarah was always happy and full of joy. She loved her family very much, and her sisters and her mom.“Why my daughter? Why my granddaughter?”Police have said the woman and child were stabbed about suppertime Friday outside Crawford Plains School in southeast Edmonton.They said officers responded and shot a man matching a description of the suspect after an altercation. The woman died at the scene and the child later died in hospital.The s...

S. Korean, Japanese leaders to meet again to improve ties

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:10:28 GMT

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The leaders of South Korea and Japan are to meet Sunday for their second summit in less than two months, as they push to bolster cooperation following years of fraught ties over historical issues.Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is to arrive in South Korea on Sunday for a two-day visit, which reciprocates a mid-March trip to Tokyo by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.The exchange of visits between the leaders of the Asian neighbors, the first of its kind in 12 years, signals that both nations are serious about strengthening ties in the face of shared regional challenges such as North Korea’s growing nuclear arsenal and China’s increasing assertiveness. “I hope to have an open-hearted exchange of views with President Yoon based on our relationship of trust,” Kishida told reporters before his departure at his official residence. “Since March, there have been various levels of communication in areas including finance and defense, and I plan...

Eloy Jiménez to be sidelined 4-6 weeks after undergoing appendectomy

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:10:28 GMT

CINCINNATI (AP) — White Sox designated hitter Eloy Jiménez was hospitalized on Saturday due to abdominal pain.“He had some abdominal pain last night and it intensified throughout the night,” White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said. “This morning we took him to the hospital for further evaluation and he’s still there. We should know something shortly.”The White Sox released an update on Twitter on Jimenez's condition after their 5-3 loss to the Cincinnati Reds Saturday, saying the star slugger underwent an appendectomy at Cincinnati's Good Samaritan Hospital and is expected to be discharged Saturday night.The team also said Jimenez will return to Chicago, where his expected recovery time will be about 4-6 weeks.Jiménez is on a season-high eight-game hitting streak after going 1 for 4 with a single and two strikeouts in Friday night’s 5-4 win over the Cincinnati Reds. He went 3 for 5 with a homer and three RBIs on Thursday. Liam Hendriks gets a step closer to a return to the White Sox “...

Isolated storms possible tonight, Sunday

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:10:28 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- After another hot and humid day, we're once again watching for the potential for storms this evening and tonight. CENTRAL TEXAS RAINFALL TOTALS We're thinking coverage may reach about 20% of Central Texas with rain and storms this evening and tonight, leaving many of us staying very warm and dry. BLOG: Hazed and confused: What’s in the air over Austin? The highest chances for storms and even severe storms will be in the Hill Country.Northern and western San Saba County is under an Enhanced Risk (3 out of 5) for severe storms this evening. Much of the rest of the Hill Country will be under a slight risk (Category 2 of 5), but also parts of western Williamson, Travis and Hays County.Another late-afternoon/evening of strong to severe stormsOur main concerns with severe weather will be very large hail and damaging winds, but a low tornado threat exists for the Hill Country.Isolated to scattered storms will be possible through around midnight before storm chances dr...

Two hurt in another shooting on Cherokee Street as festival ends

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:10:28 GMT

ST. LOUIS - Two people are hurt after another shooting on Cherokee Street, which happened Saturday as its Cinco de Mayo festival was wrapping up for the day. It's the second one on the street in as many days. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department reports one woman and one man were shot around 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the 2700 block of Cherokee Street. The festival was planned through 8 p.m. Top Story: St. Louis residents react to deadly downtown shootings Police say the woman was shot in the leg and the man suffered a graze wound to his upper thigh. Both victims were reported "conscious and breathing" after the shooting. Police have not yet disclosed any other details in this shooting investigation. Before that, just before midnight Saturday, two people died, and two others were hurt in a shooting right in the heart of Cherokee Street at Exotic Bar and Grill. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now ...

Joe Bob Briggs Talks Horror Hosting and Hollywood

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 12:10:28 GMT

John Irving Bloom aka Joe Bob Briggs has become today’s answer to Elvira. The film critic and actor, who hosts The Last Drive-in with Joe Bob Briggs on Shudder TV, has built a loyal following for his unique deep-dive research into the horror and exploitation films he presents and his comical commentary, all with a “redneck” twist. He may not have Elvira’s cleavage, but he does have a sexy sidekick, Darcy the Mail Girl, and their banter, themes and guests make for a party-like experience.From The Movie Channel to TNT ‘s MonsterVision to his current gig at Shudder, Briggs’ funny and factual way of celebrating film has made him beloved by movie fans. The fandom –called “The Mutant Fam” is so fierce in fact, that he’s been trending on Twitter since the new season debuted a couple weeks ago. The show runs live on Fridays, screening a double feature of horror that is then available for streaming on Sundays. All five seasons are a...